Semi-Rigid Behaviour of Multi-Storey Stainless Steel Structural Frames using Continuum Damage Mechanics

Abstract

Abstract The present study deals with the semi-rigid behaviour of stainless steel structural frames due to the effect of initial voids present in the microscopic structure of stainless steel. Non-Linear Finite Element analysis of stainless steel beam-column double web-angle connections is carried out considering the effect of damage on the material behaviour. The non-linear analysis becomes useful for finding out the moment carrying capacity of a joint. Using the results of the stiffness analysis, multi-storied stainless steel structural frames are analyzed and the redistribution of moments of these joints is studied using a commercial software package. The joints are provided with the secant stiffness which is obtained from the moment-rotation curves considering the effect of ductile damage.